Manhole cover



L. CROQKE MANHOLE COVER Nov. 20, 1923.

Filed May a,

A TTORNE V.

Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

LEONARD CROOKE, OF HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND.

MANHOLE COVER.

Application filed May 8,

To all whom a may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnoxann CRUOKE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Hagerstown, in the county of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manhole Covers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention upon which this application for Letters Patent is based is an improvement in man hole covers applicable for general use under all conditions where such devices are employed. It differs from those previously suggested and used in many essential particulars, its nature and construction being readily comprehended from the following statement of its general character.

The improved cover is made of pressed steel, and is preferably ovalin form. It has a depressed portion along a part of its major axis which serves as a strong box girder, and at opposite ends of this depression handles with integral bent portions are welded to its side walls, the bent portions forming lips or shoulders with which engage two bolt heads which are inserted in the central opening between the handles'and adjusted to the desired positions to give the proper distance from their centers. This construction obviates the drilling of any holes for the bolts and provides a strong compact and most convenient form of cover which may be very readily handled for making a tight joint.

This device is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is atop plan view of the cover in its referred form.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the bolts attached, and

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 83 of Fig. 2, illustrating the cover in place.

The cover as a whole is of the general shape and character of those heretofore known'and used, and comprises a fiat plate 1 with depressed edges 2 and a central lon- 1922. Serial No. 559,183.

gi'tudinal depressed portion 3, which forms a box girder. In the side walls of this de pression and near its opposite ends handles 4L, havlng bent end portions 5 integral therewith, are welded, as shown in Fig. 3, and these bent ends 5 form lips or shoulders with which the bolt heads may engage.

The approximating ends of the parts 5 are so spaced as to leave an open central space, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, through which the heads 6 of bolts 7 are passed. The bolts are then shifted to their final positions and secured to the arcs 8 by nuts 9. By this plan of construction a better opportunity is afforded fora greater range of distances between the centers of the bolts.

The fact that the lips or shoulders 5 are integral with the handles 4 is an important and valuable feature. It will be observed, furthermore, that the depressed portion is not drilled for the bolts, nor is it crimped in the webs to hold a loose plate for the bolts. This adds materially to the strength of the cover.

Having now described my improvement, what I claim is:

1. A man hole cover comprising a pressed steel plate with a longitudinal depression therein which forms a box girder, handles which are welded to the side walls of said depression near its ends, said handles having integral bent portions which form lips or shoulders for engagement with bolt heads.

2. A man hole cover comprising a pressed steel plate with a-longitudinal depression therein which forms a box girder, handles having bent end portions which are welded to the side walls of the depression to form lips or shoulders for engagement with bolt heads, the approximating ends of said lips or shoulders being so spaced as to permit the bolt heads to be passed down below the level of said lips, as set forth. 7

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

LEONARD CROOKE. 

